Nurah Speaks

Gossip is toxic and impacts the growth potential of your organization and its members.  If you want your organization, company or group to flourish, you must root out gossip.  In this episode, I share four reasons why people gossip.  Understanding a gossip's motivation can help leaders target the character building a member needs to become an essential agent rather than a source of disruption.  However, since character is an inside job, a leader can only have so much impact.   At some point, a gossip must be isolated from doing irreversible damage to the group's overall success.   If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.co

Some say, “I am not my ancestors!”  Often this suggests weakness or complicity in our ancestors in their own suffering.   However, I say, you are right -  you are not your ancestors because in fact some of us are our ancestors’ worst fears come true. In projecting their thoughts to the future, surely they’d never have imagined the complacency some of us have in our condition, our willful assassination of our own, our disunity, our selfishness or our manifest self hatred. I imagine they'd expect the pain of our existence to eventually end but who could have predicted we would be the greatest source of our own harm? If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, e

It obstructive thinking to assume that someone whose success you admire could not relate to your own struggles.  Do not let the polish that someone has, likely from years of refinement and training, put you off from opportunities to learn and grow into who you wish to become. Do seek help from those who are where you want to be. Their talent and their polish is the testament that qualifies you to seek their wisdom and their guidance.  Don't let your own fears and insecurity get in the way of your personal and professional growth. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Megan Thee Stallion and other Black entertainers give mixed messages when pushing for social justice and protection of Black women while singing lyrics and showcasing behaviors that promote the exact opposite.  These are conversations we must have.  We must call out these dichotomies because them saying one thing but promoting and profiting from the other is disingenuous and misleading. Choose a lane. We cannot be for Black women’s empowerment and protection yet degrade Black women at the same time and say that we want what’s best for Black women.  Our actions are telling a different story. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com. Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Rem

Gentrification is a frequent topic of social justice conversations among academics, urban planners and social activists.  In short, gentrification is the upgrading of dilapidated property and deteriorated neighborhoods which often results in the displacement of lower income residents. Often, it is white and affluent suburbanites returning to cities after the white flight of the 60’s and 70’s when whites moved out of cities to outlying suburbs.  When whites left, there was also a major depletion of industry, jobs, property values and in general local investment.  This resulted in unemployment, poverty and spikes in crime rates. In this episode, I question if there was anything that Blacks could have done differently in urban centers to prevent the deterioration of our communities.  As we are now facing the reclamation of cities by middle class, affluent and mostly white investors, are we now being confronted with our own lack of action resulting in this current vulnerability? If you wou

None more than black folk use the phrase, “I’m just doing me.” However there are limits to individualism.   Individualism restricts growth and minimizes progress.   While group activity is a necessary part of life, it is essential for the function of society.  Group activity and associations can enhance our communication skills, broaden our perspectives, improve character and so much more. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Is urban media representing a culture that values the worth of black women?   Is it time yet in our 'cancel culture' that we pull the plug on the degradation of our women?  Or will we continue to go along to get along supporting entertainers who imprint degenerate standards in the minds of our youth? If we do not put in the work to counter the barbaric narratives targeting our young people, we really should be more concerned than we already are  for our future. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

“Let every Leader be Swift to hear, Slow to speak.”   Our community needs our leaders to be wise and guided by truth and not their (or others’) emotions.  When the People want our immediate reactions, Leaders must always be discerning and responsible-swift to hear and slow to speak. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website:  NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Organizing is incremental and organizing with any group of people has its challenges.  However organizing Black people has its very specific and unique challenges due in large part to the trauma of the Black American experience. If we do not understand the psychology of our people, we are easily frustrated, overly critical and very quickly burned out.  If one is not willing to lead with love, one cannot lead Black people. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

There is so much we can do to make our communities great and decent places to live. BUT decent communities do not only require accountability of the mayor or city council.   It also requires that we be good neighbors to each other! If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

EVERYONE COUNTS! Every 10 years the U.S. Census Bureau counts the population in the United States and five U.S. territories. The results of this count will impact school breakfast programs, highway planning, special education grants, low income home energy assistance programs, SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program), Head Start and so much more. You Count. Complete and return your census questionnaire so that federal funds, YOUR TAX DOLLARS, can serve the community where you live. You won’t get another chance for 10 years! To learn more about the 2020 Census and what it means to you, listen to Episode 128 of the Nurah Speaks Podcast. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your

This is not an “either or” scenario.  We can and must address community violence and police brutality at the same time as both are issues of great importance. We should not be persuaded that we have to quiet down about police brutality because we have an ongoing issue with so-called 'Black on Black' crime.  The presence of one issue does not disqualify us addressing the severity of the other. Let’s also be careful with the alarmist narrative about community violence as if Black people are the only ones killing their own kind.  Violence is generally committed against someone by someone of the same racial class. For example, in 2018 of 3,315 white murder victims, 2,677 white perpetrators were identified, roughly 81%.  In the same year, of 2,925 Black murder victims, 2,6000 perpetrators were black, roughly 89%.  https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-6.xls. This does not mean that we give our own community violence a pass-

In the rise of entrepreneurship within the Black community, we have neglected the most important businesses that makes communities successful. •Family •Education •Remembrance of God (Church, Mosque, Temple) We cannot be about the business of business while neglecting that which anchors our community most. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Our language and choice of words matters a great deal when discussing the history of this nation.   This week’s episode is an examination of common language usage and how our words influence that on which we focus. Episode 125 gives the listener a grammar lesson reminiscent of that which we received in elementary school.  For example:  “Teachers teach.” Here you are presented with a subject and verb.  In this sentence, teachers are the actors. “Teachers teach students.” This example shows us the object of the teacher’ actions.  The object in this sentence is ‘students’.  The students are being acted upon by the teachers. Often in review of American history, specifically that deemed “Black History,” we are presented with something like the following: “Blacks were enslaved.”  “Blacks were lynched.” “Blacks were killed.” The subject in each of the sentences is “Blacks.” The sentences informs us that Blacks had something occur to them.  But, the picture is inco

They removed the statues.  They’ve rename the streets. Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “Black Lives Matter.” So now what? How do these symbolic gestures measure up in the absence of broad reaching meaningful change? Do not count your chickens before they hatch Brothers and Sisters! And do not make more of these gestures than the real consequential changes that must be made. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

It is no secret that Black fathers and Black men, in general, are undervalued and unappreciated in this country.  Because of that, and in celebration of Father's Day, I am sharing excerpts from previous interviews with Haidar and Qahhar Muhammad, my own sons.   In this episode, not only do they share lessons they've learned from their father, but also the value that fathers play in the lives of their children. Despite media promoting single parenting in the Black community, the souls of our children are crying for the stability that families create.  Our children need fathers or key male figures in the absence of their fathers. We are imbalanced without them. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram. To bring

We have their attention, now what? What are we asking for? Whatever the ask, our demands should be Actionable, Measurable and Permanent. We have been assuaged for too long with sentiments and empty platitudes that do not create substantive change. This go round we should be smarter and more sophisticated. We must no longer accept temporary measures when what is needed most is indelible and fundamental reform.  If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Dissatisfaction produces change. The greater the dissatisfaction, the greater the change. The people have spoken and they are dissatisfied with the unjust killing of Black people by law enforcement.  George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, John Crawford, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Atatiana Jefferson are among those who have been killed during interactions with police. This tragic list unfortunately goes on to include many, many more. As demonstrators have taken their protests downtown, there are many commentators who are unhappy with the nature of the demonstrations. Among the mostly peaceful protests has been looting, arson, vandalism and property destruction. It is important to note that there has been organized right wing and left wing militants responsible for property damage, fires and much of the chaos. Oddly placed pallets of bricks were spotted in many cities in non-construction or non-work zones. There has also been coordinated groups breaking store front glass a

In many ways, I don't need to record another podcast episode to talk about what's happened in Minneapolis.  You can go to the Nurah Speaks archives.  The last episode, ‘Action Is The Defining Measure Of Revolution’ talks about what's happened to our brother and to too many other brothers and too many sisters and too many families and communities across this nation. We need guidance, we need leadership.  And as someone who has this platform, I know that it is my responsibility to be dignified, civilized and truthful.  I also know that the truth will sting some and inform all. And that is the purpose of this message- to deliver the truth, to share information that is not going to just inspire us to feel good-but that's going to inspire us to take action. We cannot keep wait for others to stand up and to speak the loudest on issues that affect us the most. We have to give the energy and effort that is going to equal the change that we say that we want and that we need. If you would like

Revolutions are defined by the actions we take to produce radical change. In 2020, the Black community is still petitioning for justice, fairness and equity within a country founded on unimaginable crimes committed against humanity. We have marched; we have sat in, we have stood, we have sang, we have boycotted and we have been ignored. In spite of our efforts we remain outside of the gates of justice.  Our mistake has been putting the burden of change on the patron of our pain.  The burden to change is our own. This includes extreme adjustments in our behaviors and performance as a people. If all we want is to talk about the problem of injustice, we can continue to demonstrate. But if we truly want a revolution, our actions must be commensurate to the changes we want to generate for our people. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeak